JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. B-1, created 1 Oct. 1843–24 Feb. 1845; handwriting of and ; 297 pages, plus 10 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the second volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This second volume covers the period from 1 Sept. 1834 to 2 Nov. 1838; the subsequent four volumes, labeled C-1 through F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
This document, volume B-1, is the second of the six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church.” The collection was compiled over the span of seventeen years, 1838 to 1856. The narrative in volume B-1 begins with the entry for 1 September 1834, just after the conclusion of the Camp of Israel (later called Zion’s Camp), and continues to 2 November 1838, when JS was interned as a prisoner of war at , Missouri. For a fuller discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to the history.
, serving as JS’s “private secretary and historian,” completed the account of JS’s history contained in volume A-1 in August 1843. It covered the period from JS’s birth in 1805 through the aftermath of the Camp of Israel in August 1834. When work resumed on the history on 1 October 1843, Richards started a new volume, eventually designated B-1.
At the time of JS’s death in June 1844, the account had been advanced to 5 August 1838, on page 812 of volume B-1. ’s poor health led to the curtailment of work on B-1 for several months, until 11 December 1844. On that date, Richards and , assisted by , resumed gathering the records and reports needed to draft the history. Richards then composed and drafted roughed-out notes while Thomas Bullock compiled the text of the history and inscribed it in B-1. They completed their work on the volume on or about 24 February 1845. Richards, , and Jonathan Grimshaw later added ten pages of “Addenda,” which provided notes, extensive revisions, or additional text to be inserted in the original manuscript where indicated.
Though JS did not dictate or revise any of the text recorded in B-1, and chose to maintain the first-person, chronological narrative format established in A-1 as if JS were the author. They drew from a variety of primary and secondary sources including JS’s diaries and letters, minutes of meetings, the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, church and other periodicals, reports of JS’s discourses, and the reminiscences and recollections of church members. As was the case with A-1, after JS’s death, , , , and others modified and corrected the manuscript as they reviewed material before its eventual publication.
Beginning in March 1842 the church’s Nauvoo periodical, the Times and Seasons, began publishing the narrative as the “History of Joseph Smith.” It was also published in England in the church periodical the Millennial Star beginning in June 1842. Once a press was established in Utah and the Deseret News began publication, the “History of Joseph Smith” once more appeared in print in serialized form. Beginning with the November 1851 issue, the narrative picked up where the Times and Seasons had left off over five years earlier.
The narrative recorded in B-1 continued the story of JS’s life as the prophet and president of the church he labored to establish. The account encompasses significant developments in the church’s two centers at that time—, Ohio, and northwest —during a four-year-span. Critical events included the organization of the Quorums of the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy, the dedication of the House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, the establishment of the Kirtland Safety Society, dissension and apostasy in Kirtland and Missouri, the first mission to England, JS’s flight from Kirtland to Missouri in the winter of 1838, the Saints’ exodus from Kirtland later that year, the disciplining of the Missouri presidency, and the outbreak of the Missouri War and arrest of JS. Thus, B-1 provides substantial detail regarding a significant period of church expansion and transition as well as travail.
<September 10.> of the State of was read and accepted. , and were appointed <nominated> as first elders to go forth to the , preaching by the way, and if approved by the <Conference Minutes of the High Council of Zion.> Revelator, should be accounted worthy and numbered as such. Decided by the presidents and sanctioned by the council that the first elders go forth as soon as they can get ready and preach by the way to . voted that those elders that came up in the apply for a dismissal, from , and a recommend to , to go forth to preach the gospel. Secretary Pro. Tem.” [HC 2:164]
<24. Minutes of the High Council of .—> “Minutes of a the High Council, September 24th, 1834. Joseph Smith Junr. presiding, assisted by and . Counsellors and were absent. After prayer, the president made some remarks, when the case of was called up to inquire whether under existing circumstances he can fill the office of high-counsellor. It was decided that four counsellors speak on the case, viz. and : and . The counsellors severally spoke in their courses followed by ; after which the assistant presidents spoke, when the president gave a decision, That brother <Decided that be no longer H. Counsellor.> stand no longer a high counsellor, but that he retain the office of high priest, and continue to lift up his voice in the name of Jesus, in preaching the gospel, to which the council assented, and gave his assent with thankfulness.
< appointed high Counsellor.> The president nominated to fill the office vacated by , which was seconded by the clerk. The counsellors voted for the nomination, as also the conference present. The president led in prayer, after which he ordained to the office of high counsellor, pronouncing blessings upon him in the name of the Lord, after which , also blessed his son in the name of the Lord, confirming the same blessing. Elders and were then appointed to fill the vacancies occasioned by the absence of counsellors and . <Committee appointed to compile Doctrine & Covenants, viz— Joseph Smith Jr. , > The council then proceeded to appoint a committee to arrange the items of the doctrine of Jesus Christ, for the government of the Church of Latter Day Saints, which church was organized and commenced its rise, on the 6th. of April 1830. These items are to be taken from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the revelations which have been given to the church up to this date, or shall be, until such arrangements is are made, Counsellor nominated, <Prest> Joseph Smith Junr, , , and , to compose said Committee; which was seckonded by counsellor . The counsellors then gave their vote in the affirmative, which was also agreed to by the whole conference. [p. 556]